Discover dozens of new animal and plant species in Indonesia

Long beak urchins

A group of scientists exploring a dense forest in Indonesia today (7-2) said they have discovered dozens of new species of frogs, butterflies and plants as well as a large number of mammals almost extinct elsewhere.

Bruce Beehler, co-leader of the scientific team, said the group also found many significant wildlife species in the Foja mountains, covering more than 800,000 hectares.

Two species of long beak urchins, an ancient spawn mammal were also discovered here.

However, these findings are only published and will then be reviewed by the scientific community before being officially classified as new species, a process that can take from 6 to several months.

This expedition team - founded by the International Natural Environment Conservation Organization - arrived in Papua province, one of Indonesia's most remote provinces, both geographically and politically, in December 2005.

Honey

The team consists of 11 Australian, American and Indonesian scientists and has required 6 new licenses to be able to legally helicopter through an area full of muddy lakes to enter this forest.

They said 20 frog species were discovered, including very small frogs, with a length of less than 1.3 cm, 4 butterflies and at least 5 new species of palm trees.

One of the most notable findings is the yellow Kangaroo species, a new species of Indonesia and previously thought to have been hunted to almost extinction, and a species of bile-sucking birds.

WALL VY